is a D-link router as good as a linksys?

[BigMoe]

is a D-link router as good as a linksys?

 

[AkumaBao]

Depends on the model, and what type of router you are talking about. Usually, they even out, but the Wi-Fi routers can have some major differences. It's more of a personal preference, but there are a few that can be buggy.

 

[cmetz]

Each has winner and loser products - overall, they're about the same, but particular models are good and particular models are bad. Keep in mind that they both started out buying their designs from others, and even today, they're mostly building on reference designs (boards+software) from chip manufacturers, adding their web UI and logo on it.

Can't speak for D-Link's service, but Linksys has 24/7 tech support that is quick to get on the phone, friendly, polite, and utterly useless.

 

[AkumaBao]

D-Link's service isn't too bad, but not 24/7. Usually, if it's a very technical matter, it might take up to 2 days for a Level 2 tech to get back with you.

 

[MulLa]

Can't speak for D-Link's service, but Linksys has 24/7 tech support that is quick to get on the phone, friendly, polite, and utterly useless.

Totally agreed. Linksys tech support usually ain't much of a help when it comes to overly technical questions.

 

[Torghn]

I've had good luck with both. Overall I've liked the D-link routers I've had better.

 

[imported_FishTaco]

See bottom for cliff notes.

For wired routers, all consumer products are about the same. I don't have any experience with their wireless B products so you'll have to ask someone else about them.

However, I have found some good point and bad points about their wireless G products. First I had a D-Link DI-624 Super G wireless router. Worked great, rebooted randomly every 2 or 3 days, but not a big deal. It's counterpart laptop card the DWL-G650 Super G PC card was a problem till dslreports pointed me to the atheros drivers which made the card 100% stable instead of losing link like 6-8 times a day with the d-link software.

So after much work I was satisfied with D-Link, until I wanted to wirelessly connect my Xbox to my network. I plan to connect an Xbox and possibly a few more tv using devices (PS2 or ReplayTV) and none of the D-Link Super G products would work with more than 1 device and they were every expensive, almost twice the cost of the router.

After researching and being disappointed by the D-Link DWL-2100AP and the DWL-G810 I decided to give my DI-624 to my sister who only wants to connect her wireless B laptop to her cable modem, and buy a pair of WBR2-G54 Buffalo Tech routers. I thought all consumer grade routers were aboiut the same. Well that's not quite the case with wireless G products. It seems that routers based off the Broadcom chipset have more features. The feature I got the Buffalo routers for was their ability to do bridging/wireless access all at the same time. D-Link devices if they are capable of doing multiple things, can't function in multiple modes at the same time. They also don't interoperate with each other very well.

If I had stuck with D-Link, I would have had to buy 2 DWL-2100AP + a 4 port switch and I would still need my DI-624. By switching to Buffalo, I only had to buy 2 of their routers to accomplish the same thing.

Also if you're into installing modified firmware to get some cool new features, go with the Linksys WRT54G/GS. It has open source firmware (based off linux) so people are adding new features. Buffalo WBR-54G and Belkin F5D7230-4 use the same chipset (hence also open source), and firmware changes made to the Linksys are planned to be ported to these 2 routers too.

So finally a conclusion, why buy a D-Link when for the same money you can get more functionality out of one of the following: Linksys WRT54G or GS, Buffalo Tech WBR-54G or Belkin F5D7230-4. Even if you don't need bridging or the new features now, later down the road you might want them.

CLIFF NOTES: D-link ok if all you want is a wireless router, bad if you want WDS bridging. Buy Linksys WRT54G, Buffalo Tech WBR-54G or Belkin F5D7230-4.

PS: I never had to call Buffalo Tech tech support so I can't comment on how good or bad they are.

 

[cmetz]

The hacked firmware for the WRT54G/GS is an interesting and differentiating feature. When Linksys has long since abandoned the product it will still have a future from community efforts.

I'd love to see AT or some other review site test and rate SOHO networking vendors' support, much like the newer AT reviews test motherboard vendors' support.

 

[Torghn]

Originally posted by: FishTaco

So finally a conclusion, why buy a D-Link when for the same money you can get more functionality out of one of the following: Linksys WRT54G or GS, Buffalo Tech WBR-54G or Belkin F5D7230-4. Even if you don't need bridging or the new features now, later down the road you might want them.

Because the D-link is twice as fast and half the price after rebate.

 

[JackMDS]

This is a very Nice Thread.

Q: Is a D-link router as good as a Linksys?

A1: Depends on the model, and what type of router you are talking about.

A2: Each has winner and loser products - overall, they're about the same.

A3: For wired routers, all consumer products are about the same.

As for service. The only one that had something that might be called service for Entry Level Network Hardware was Microsoft, but they are now out of this segment of the business?.(see Note 1)

Otherwise to use words like service, and or customer support as related to Entry Level Network Hardware is a ?Poor Joke?.:roll::|:Q:thumbsup:

Conclusion: Because the D-link is twice as fast and half the price after rebate. :beer:

Could be that Now that Microsoft is out of the market the other Brands will be less ?obnoxious and improve their compatibility with windows and it will be easy to configure the ?Plastic Hardware?.:thumbsup:

:sun: